The Shape of Things to Come? Researchers at The University of Arizona Predict Healing Based on Wound Shape

TUCSON, Ariz. — Wound shape alone can be a useful predictor of wound healing outcome, according to researchers at The University of Arizona’s Southern Arizona Limb Salvage Alliance (SALSA) and La Jolla’s Advanced Biohealing.

“We were surprised and pleased with the results or our study,” said David G. Armstrong, DPM, PhD, UA professor of surgery and director of SALSA. “Very valuable and predictive data can be garnered just by looking at the shape of the wound. Essentially, more round wounds – nearly regardless of size – heal more predictably than ones with a lot of concavities.”

The researchers suggest that this might assist in the development of more sophisticated computer-driven prediction of healing. “Not only can this help clinicians at the bedside, but it might also help us develop better algorithms to teach hand-held computers and even cell phones to trace wounds, monitor progress and predict healing,” Dr. Armstrong said. “This is extremely helpful and practical information.”

The study, published in the March/April edition of Wound Repair and Regeneration, analyzed nearly 4,000 wound tracings as part of a large, randomized clinical trial.

Each year, millions of Americans suffer from chronic wounds; predicting their healing can be a difficult and expensive effort, with many billions of dollars spent annually toward this task.